Johnstown High School Guidance & Counseling

• Our Department’s Mission
• 8th Grade
• Want to apply for PTECH?
• 9th Grade – Freshman
• Organize Yourself with Naviance
• 10th Grade – Sophomore
• Credit Check: Are you on track to graduate?
• Upperclassmen – Junior and Senior
• Career Planning and College Information
• Career Planning Resources
• College Information
• College Entrance Testing
• ACT/SAT Testing Information
• Notes about the SAT Subject Tests
• Important information for U.S. registration deadlines
• PSAT: Answers to basic questions
• College Scholarships and Grants
• Financial Aid
• NCAA
• Division I 16 Core-Course Rule
• Division II 14 Core-Course Rule
• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Graduation Requirements
• Diploma Options
• Regents Diploma
• Regents Diploma with Honors
• Regents Diploma Advanced Designation with Honors

Our Department’s Mission

The mission of the Johnstown High School Counseling Department is to foster and enhance each student’s personal/social, career, and academic development. In collaboration with staff, parents, and outside agencies the counselors will strive to meet each student’s needs. Counselors will assist students in obtaining their goals and aspirations to be lifelong learners.

Your school counselor will work with you throughout your high school career to help you make the best educational and personal decisions to fit your future wants and needs. During your high school years, your school counselor is here to:

• Make sure that you are succeeding in all of your classes.
• Help you cope with any personal issues that you may have.
• Encourage you to be the best you can be, no matter what your future goals are.
• Help you create a junior schedule that fits with your future goals and review pathway selections and modify if necessary.
• Introduce you to HFM BOCES Career & Technical Education Center Courses.
• Assist you with college admission preparation:
  • Administer PSAT exam

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8th Grade

Want to apply for PTECH?

Only eighth-graders in participating HFM component school districts like Greater Johnstown are eligible to apply to a Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES PTECH program. Because the curriculum is structured to allow for acceleration into college courses, students must enter the program their freshman year of high school.

Apply now at the HFM BOCES website.

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9th Grade – Freshman

• View the Freshman timeline.

Organize Yourself with Naviance

Naviance is a software that helps students take charge of their own path. It helps students uncover their strengths and unique skills so they can develop confidence and see their potential. This program will help students connect the dots between their interests and college and career choices and to stay motivated to choose their best fit postsecondary path.

During this year, you will:

• set up your account
• learn what Naviance has to offer and how to navigate through it.
• Start your resume:
  • Consider your future career objective
  • Keep track of all:
    • extra-curricular activities;
    • volunteer work;
    • employment;
    • educational accomplishments/awards
    • extra-curricular accomplishments/awards

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10th Grade – Sophomore

• View the Sophomore timeline.

Credit Check: Are you on track to graduate?

You need 5 or more credits to be a sophomore.

Do you have the following credits:

• English, 1.0
• Social Studies,1.0
• Science, 1.0
• Mathematics, 1.0
• Language Other than English, 1.0
• Visual Art, Music, 1.0
• Physical Education, .5

Note: 10 or more credits are required to attain Junior status.

If you are short on credits, there are ways to “catch up.” Reach out to your school counselor for assistance.

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Upperclassmen – Junior and Senior

• View the Junior timeline.
• View the Senior timeline.

Career Planning and College Information

Career Planning Resources

Career Cruising allows you to take an interest assessment to determine possible career paths. The site also allows you to research different careers, colleges, and financial aide options. Please see your School Counselor for the Username and Password.

CareerPrep provides information about career and training options. 

Mapping Your Future is a site that allows students to explore career and college opportunities. The site also allows students to learn about financial aide and how to manage money. 

My Future allows students to research different military options. 

See also information on upcoming NYS Job Fairs.

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College Information

ACT: This site allows you to register for the ACT test online. 

Campus Tours: Search colleges by name and state and take a tour of them without even leaving your home. 

Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities: This site allows you to research New York’s Independent Universities and Colleges. 

College Board: This site allows you search for colleges by major, location, or other items that may be important to you. This site also contains sample questions and registration for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. 

College Xpress: This site allows you to discover information on student loans, different majors, and career options. The site also gives you a chance to chat with students located at various campuses. 

CUNY: Research the different City Universities of New York. 

Embark: This site allows you to research colleges and financial aid options. 

Go College: This site contains practice SAT and ACT questions, as well as information on financial aid. 

National Center for Education Statistics: This site allows you to find colleges by location, type of institution, and the level of award. 

New York’s Private Colleges & Universities: This site includes information on New York ‘s colleges including academic programs, campus profiles, and financial aid. 

Petersons: Locate colleges by program, state, or name. 

SUNY: Research the different State Universities of New York.

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College Entrance Testing

ACT/SAT Testing Information

ACT – Register for the ACT’s and prepare for the exam.

College Board – Register for the PSAT/SAT/SAT Subject Tests and prepare for the exams.

AP Exam Schedules

Notes about the SAT Subject Tests

• Students may take up to three SAT Subject Tests on a single test date.
• Students cannot take the SAT Subject Tests and the SAT during the same test administration.
• Students must indicate which SAT Subject Tests they plan to take when they register for a test. However, they may change which tests they take up to the test date—except for Language with Listening Tests. This applies to center testing only (not school-based testing, which involves specialized materials that may not be available).
• Calculators may be used only on the Mathematics Level 1 and Level 2 SAT Subject Tests. Students may not use calculators for other SAT Subject Tests and must put them away when not taking a mathematics test.
• The Language with Listening Tests are always given in the first hour of testing. Only one listening test can be taken per test date.
• The SAT Subject Tests offered on each test date are subject to change.
• Access information about SAT fees

Important information for U.S. registration deadlines

• U.S. deadlines apply to students testing in the United States and U.S. territories.
• U.S. registration materials that are mailed must be postmarked by the U.S. deadlines. The deadlines expire at midnight, Eastern Time.
• Sunday administrations usually occur the day after each Saturday test date, for students who cannot test on Saturday due to religious observance.
• The Language with Listening Tests are offered only in November.

PSAT: Answers to basic questions

What is the PSAT/NMSQT?
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized test that measures verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematical problem- solving abilities as well as writing skills. It is a timed test consisting of five sections (Two 25-minute Critical Reading sections; Two 25-minute Math sections; One 30-minute Writing Skills section).

Who Should Take the PSAT?
We strongly encourage all high school juniors to take the PSAT; only scores obtained during the junior year qualify for consideration for the National Merit Scholarship. Sophomores may take the test to familiarize themselves with the exam.

What are the Advantages of Taking the PSAT?
The PSAT gives excellent feedback about academic skills to help you get ready for college. It also provides great practice for college bound students planning to take the SAT later in their junior or senior year. When the PSAT is scored, students will receive their test book and answer key. The score report will describe the specific skills or areas that need strengthening and provide suggestions for improvement in order to better prepare students for the SAT. In addition to that, students who score well above the norm may qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.

Additional Info:
Upon registration, students will receive a practice booklet consisting of a full-length practice PSAT and answers. Students will also receive a Student Bulletin that includes more detailed information about the test.

Please visit The College Board website for more information and stop by the Guidance Office with any questions.

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College Scholarships and Grants

Seniors, please accept your invite to Scholarship Classroom to view additional scholarship opportunities. If you did not receive an invite, please contact the department secretary Carm Anagnostopulos.

NYS Excelsior Scholarship: Makes New York State public universities tuition-free for families making up to $125,000 per year once fully phased in. Starting in 2017, the scholarship is available to students attending a SUNY or CUNY school whose families make up to $100,000.

FastWeb: This website provides links to many scholarship opportunities for students. It also has information on jobs/internships for college students.

GoCollege: This website provides students with the opportunity to learn how to find scholarships and how to win them. It also has information on resume writing and interviewing skills.

College Board Scholarship Search: This website has a database of college scholarships and internships for college bound students. It has more than 2,300 sources of college funding.

College Answer: This website is sponsored by Sallie Mae loan company and provides students, parents, and counselors with an abundance of information for college financial planning.

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Financial Aid

FAFSA: This government web site provides links on how to file a FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) form. All colleges require students to fill out FAFSA form to be considered for financial aid. This application should be filled out online. 

FinAid: This site offers a useful tool, a financial aid calculator. This tool gives its user a good estimate of financial aid. The site offers a vast amount of financial aid information. It is also great for information on scholarships, loans, savings plans, and financial calculators 

Profile Online: A link to the CSS profile. Some colleges may require their students to fill out this form in addition or separate from the FAFSA. 

Mapping Your Future: This site is often used once a student is accepted into college. This site provides links to entrance/exit counseling for Stafford loans. It also provides many resources for parents and students to learn about loans.

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NCAA

Thinking about participating in college-level sports? Division I and II colleges can offer athletic scholarships; Division III colleges (most smaller, private colleges) cannot. Before an athlete can play a sport or receive a scholarship at a Division I or II college, he/she must meet NCAA’s academic requirements. Division III athletes do not need to meet NCAA academic requirements. If you plan on playing a Division I or Division II sport in college, you must fill out the NCAA clearinghouse.

Division I 16 Core-Course Rule

• Four years of English
• Three years of Mathematics (Algebra 1 or Higher)
• Two years of Natural/Physical Science
• One Year of Additional English, Mathematics, or Science
• Two Years of Social Science
• Four Years of Additional Courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

Division II 14 Core-Course Rule

• Three years of English
• Two years of Mathematics (Algebra 1 or Higher)
• Two years of Natural/Physical Science
• Two years of Additional English, Mathematics, or Science
• Two years of Social Science
• Three years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

Visit the National Collegiate Athletic Association website for more information.

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Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES Career & Technical Education offers students an avenue for career exploration and enrichment through practical learning applications.

Juniors and seniors from GJSD who are interested in pursuing career training as part of their high school experience are eligible to attend.

GJSD students enrolled in CTE programs are provided the knowledge, skills and credentials needed to succeed in college and the workplace. Students of all academic and experiential abilities to explore CTE program opportunities.

Learn more about CTE opportunities available through HFM BOCES.

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More Information

• High School Profile